life in the big CO

it's been a while

2009-05-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

a couple months since i last wrote, and a lot has happened.

i took a trip to georgia! you can't get much deeper south than that. after taking a red-eye and a little nap, i met d.j.'s family and got to see some of atlanta. it was great. i felt really welcome and had a great time. but the MOST IMPORTANT THING: i went to a Waffle House. finally. : )

spring quarter is over and my summer class has started. i took a road trip with my friend anthony to seattle between the two. nine...teen...hours of driving to get there. it was great to see the fam, even if it was only three days. i managed to shove a bed frame, headboard and a nightstand in the back of my subaru, and took it all back to greeley. needless to say, there ain't much to do while driving on the same highway for 700 miles, and we ended up taking pictures of the creases of our elbows that looked like butts and sending them to people. hilarious (when you have nothing better to do).

i'm loving my directing class, and LTR starts MONDAY! i can't wait to be part of a show again. although i'm pretty busy this summer, i feel like i have some purpose in my life, instead of just sitting around aimlessly. which is nice, too... LOVE.

uhh

2009-04-11T18:40:00.000-07:00

it's a little sad how much i want summer to arrive. warm weather, barbecues, camping, swimming... how immature, right?

that said, this year has gone so fast. i can't believe that it's Easter tomorrow. before i know it we'll be done with classes and starting LTR. it's amazing.

i'm sad i can't have an Easter egg hunt with my family this year. i'm 21 years old and we still have one EVERY YEAR. it's one of the things that i miss about family holidays. guess i'll just have to settle for a picnic in the park with close friends. : )

dinners ready, gotsta go! LOVE.

YIPPEE!!

2009-03-13T18:44:00.000-07:00

just found out today. I'VE FINALLY BEEN CAST IN A SHOOOOOW! a smaller part, albeit, but i'm just happy to finally be cast. i can't wait.

i leave for home tomorrow. i'm excited to see my family and everything, but as far as spring breaks go, i'm not sure how much fun i'll have. i guess we'll find out.

i should be packing right now, so i'm gonna cut this post short. i'll probably blog a little this week. 'til then, LOVE.

deary me

2009-02-24T13:26:00.000-08:00

it's official.

my nephew has been adopted. and i am pissed.

he's three years old. i love him. granted, my sister may not be the best candidate for motherhood, but this was a totally selfish move. instead of sticking with it and trying to do her best, she basically gave up. i know, i know; i don't know anything about being a mom or trying to take care of a child, but i do know one thing. i could NEVER do what she did, it would rip me apart. so now, i'm stuck with negative feelings towards my sister and a desperate feeling of helplessness, because my nephew is gone. what would have been nice is if i had some idea of what was to come, because i would have spent as much time as possible with him before i left again for school. gah, what to do...

the above situation has been influencing my mood lately, as much as i try to block it out. i have lots to do, such as finding a job, writing essays for scholarships, and doing classwork, but concentrating has been hard. it's like a giant, black cloud over my head all the time.

MOVING ON. the house my friends and i had been planning on moving into was foreclosed. yay. however, they went to look at another house today that will be a great replacement. i have yet to see it, but i'm sure it'll do.

auditions for LTR are fast approaching, and i'm really hoping to be cast. this whole rejection thing is getting old. mostly because i know i deserve a part, and not getting even a little one is not working for me. i'll do my bestest.

enough gabbing for today. i'll be back soon. LOVE.

this just in...

2009-01-28T14:38:00.000-08:00

I HAVE A PLACE TO STAY NEXT YEAR!!

my friend kelsey called today to offer me a room in this cute little house about a block away from where i currently live. we just went to look at it, and it's perfect. and did i mention cheap? 300 a month for rent is pretty darn good. not to mention with a group of people i love. next year is already looking good.

i have a boyfriend named d.j. ... i haven't mentioned him in my blog before, but i figured i should for anyone who reads this (which i understand is very few people). he's a senior M.T. major who is SUPREMELY talented, sweet, handsome, and he truly cares about me. and vice versa. we'll see how the rest of the year works out, but i will have a hard time when he moves to new york to become rich and famous and leaves me to wallow in greeley. : ) ok, i won't wallow, but i WILL be sad. hopefully, we can be cast in a show or something this summer.

i need to find an E.N.T. here. i'm still not better. what is this crap?!

i have a weight-loss goal. i want to be a size 4 by this summer. i think that's safe and reasonable, but i just need to be motivated. i've been to the gym almost every day since i've been back, so i think i'm headed in the right direction. is it too much to ask to feel good while wearing shorts?

i can't wait for the summer. the snow is pretty and it's fun to be bundled up, but seriously... i just want some heat. it's always cold in my room and i can't seem to get warm during the day. this poses a problem for someone trying to get over an illness. it's driving me crazy...

anyways, it's been a pretty good day. more later. LOVE.

what's this?

2009-01-24T12:09:00.000-08:00

two days in a row of blogging?? MIRACLE OF MIRACLES.

how is everyone on this fine saturday afternoon? personally, i am very happy it's the weekend, which is a little sad after only 2 weeks of school. i plan on searching a little more for jobs, going to the gym, studying the international phonetic alphabet, and enjoying the sunshine. it's cold here, but the sun is out almost constantly during the day. i was told to expect more snow, and i'm very excited for the delivery of some new snow boots that will keep my feet toasty warm. let's hope they arrive before the snow does...

i still can't hear more than 50% out of my left ear, which the ENT man said was a side effect of my sinus infection. yes, 4 months after coming down with a bug of some sort, and i'm still getting over it. i just want to be healthy again. being sick for that long is pretty tiresome.

as much as i love keeping up with my family, the situation with my nephew is eating me up right now. i love this little boy. the fact that i could see him EVERY DAY over the break made my days brighter, and the thought that he might be a part of another family soon just makes me sick. my mom put him on the phone when i called earlier this week, and it took everything i had not to bawl my eyes out. this is definitely a tough situation, for all of us. i think i'll try praying about it.

it is truly amazing that i'm writing today, but i'll try to keep it up as best as i can. miss you all. LOVE.

little homesick?

2009-01-23T16:53:00.000-08:00

yeah, i guess i am... i've been back in greeley for about 2 weeks now, and i'd be lying if i said i didn't miss home a little. it was so nice being back. i'm not sure when i'll be home again, which is a little scary.

apologies for the hiatus. i'm the worst.

WE HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT! the feeling in the air on the 20th was different in a way, like people knew great changes were coming and it affected their moods. the weather here corresponded, with temperatures hovering somewhere around 70 degrees. and yet, today it snowed. curious...

i'm on a quest. an epic journey to find the most elusive and mysterious of possessions: a job. when you think about it, what's really so hard about finding one? i haven't been able to find many opportunities here, which is really discouraging. my dream is to find a family who needs childcare and a housekeeper on a regular basis. however, my search isn't going very well. hopefully my luck will change soon, because... i have no money.

classes are going well. nothing too stressful or taxing, which will be a nice change from last semester's western civ. i'm really looking forward to the summer, hopefully getting cast in a show, taking more classes and (maybe?) having a real job. it won't be much of a "summer", but i'm really trying to get outta here as soon as possible. LET LIFE BEGIIIIIIN!

i miss all of you. i'll try my best to update this sorry excuse for a blog more often. LOVE.

uh

2008-12-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

I'M 21.

weird, right? finally a grown-up. this is a short blog, but i thought i should document this momentous occasion. that's all.

more later. LOVE.

wowie

2008-11-22T19:55:00.000-08:00

this time i'm genuinely apologizing for how long it's been since i wrote last. unacceptable.

we opened the laramie project tonight. it was GREAT. the audience was moved and i think we told the story as well as we could. i guess as soon as lights went out, we had a standing ovation. but, it's hard to see that when there's no curtain call... : )

now, my attention is focused on writing one more big paper for western civ. i think this one is worth 20% of our grade, so it's imperative that i do a good job. i'm trying my best to keep my nose to the grindstone and crank it out. it's not working so well. eh, i'll finish it tomorrow.

thanksgiving. so excited. the end.

also exciting: CHRISTMAS. i can't wait to come home for the holidays. and do all the festive things my heart desires. you and me, stuart, you and me.

ok, ok, just writing this blog is keeping me from writing this paper, so i'll wrap it up. miss you all and i'll try to be more diligent with the posts. LOVE.

jeez

2008-11-13T21:45:00.000-08:00

ok, it may be safer to say i'll write when i get the chance, because this every day thing is NOT working. : )

it's been a pretty busy week. lots of homework, prop shopping, rehearsal, meetings and much, much more. i'd like to think i'm keeping up with things pretty well, which is saying something. being sick hasn't helped. i've had this thing for about 3 weeks now, and i'm just about ready for it to be gone. oh wait, i've been ready for 3 weeks. i feel it lifting, though, which is great.

it gets colder and colder nowadays. i'm trying to brace myself for the shocking blow that is winter, which i can tell is just about to jump at me from around the corner and sucker punch me in the face (what a visual, eh?). when it happens, i've got my coats, scarves, hats, mittens, boots and hot chocolate armed and ready. we'll see how i handle it.

tomorrow, i'm going with kayla and a bunch of friends to her hometown to see a show at the high school. it'll be nice to take a little trip to somewhere that isn't greeley. after that, i have to focus on the fact that the one-act opens in A WEEK. crazy. i think we're ready for people to see it, though. we've worked hard, and it shows.

lastly, my plans for thanksgiving have changed. i thought i would be staying here at school, but recent opportunities have been made available to me. that's all i'll say for now... LOVE.

tuckered out

2008-11-10T16:57:00.000-08:00

yesterday worked out differently than i expected. the show was great, and the fact that it was free made it even better. however, i left my purse at a restaurant we went to, and had to wait around for someone from the day shift to look for it. that set us back about 30 minutes. this meant we got back to greeley around 6:30, which meant i missed the opportunity to see tammis and detta : (. i would have loved to see them, but i'll see them soon enough.

after going to bed FAR too late last night, i woke up around 6:30 AM to meet my one-act cast at andre's house. from there, we drove to laramie, WY to meet Rebecca Hilliker, a woman i play in the show. it was AMAZING to meet her and hear what she thought about everything having to do with laramie project. i'm sure it will help us with understanding and portraying the story correctly. from there, we ate lunch, which proved to be a great "cast bonding" time. these people are so much fun to be around. our last stop in laramie was to find a fence that was very close to the location of the actual crime scene. despite the lighthearted air of the cast, being there was pretty moving. the fact that we're able to share this story is really an honor, and i couldn't ask for anything more.

soooo i'm pretty tired after everything i've done over the last 48 hours. so excited for what's still to come. LOVE.

who doesn't love a free show?

2008-11-09T09:04:00.001-08:00

we have a SUPER opportunity today to see a professional show in denver FO FREE. my whole class was offered a free ticket to The Glass Menagerie. the cast is made up of mostly UNC alumni, so that may be the reason we're getting free admission. but hey, i'll take what i can get.

also, i get to see someone from home today! tammis and detta are here to visit teya and see her in Into the Woods, and then they've invited me and some of teya's friends to dinner. i can't wait to see them and catch up on things that have happened since i've been gone. it's a little comfort to have them here, something familiar to have for a day. needless to say, i can't wait to see them.

my financial situation is scaring me. i need a job, but with my schedule right now, mixed with the fact that no one is hiring, makes it darn near impossible. i hate asking my parents for money, but what else can i do? lemonade stands are still acceptable, right? : )

ok, i'm going to get ready for the day. miss you all. LOVE.

spring cleaning

2008-11-08T11:47:00.000-08:00

if it were spring, today would be spring cleaning day. i plan to clean my bathroom, my room, my kitchen, and do homework all day. right after i write this blog. : )

my one-act cast is going to laramie on monday to meet a woman i play in the show. i'm so excited. i think it'll just put everything into perspective for me. the show is in good shape, but i know it's just going to get better as we get closer to performances. i'm very excited for an audience.

i miss my family. i can't wait to see them at christmas. i love school and just about everything about it, but i've been away for almost 3 months now, and that's a long time. i miss my friends, too. stuart, abby, chelsea, sean, becca, nate... the list goes on. so excited to see you all again.

auditions for next semester are coming up. i REALLY want to be cast this time, and i think if i work hard enough on my monologues, i have a good shot. shows include: Merchant of Venice, Eclipsed, Chess and Holes. we'll see how it goes...

i may write later if i'm bored. miss you guys. LOVE.

wow, sorry

2008-11-03T22:48:00.000-08:00

i realize i haven't written every day, as promised, so i expect whoever reads this to feel a little misled. it was a fun weekend though, with halloween, and more halloween, and just a little more halloween. it was hard to find time to write. but i haven't forgotten about my blog, and i'm back. yay!

so, today was another BEAUTIFUL day. people from around here don't get it, they say it should be snowing by now, but it was probably 75 degrees outside. i love it. i can sit on my porch without a jacket and that's great. my second class was cancelled, so i enjoyed the day a little more.

in honor of the election, our monday movie night crew watched Election. GREAT movie. it really has nothing to do with presidency, but we thought it was appropriate. i am voting in my first ever election tomorrow, and that's just another reminder that i'm (legally) a grown-up. GULP. i know i'm a lot more mature than most people my age, but the thought of being...old... makes me nervous. i guess that's life, right?

oh, and i'm voting for Obama.

one-act rehearsal was rough tonight. i hate feeling like i'm not doing well enough. but andre called me afterwards to tell me i was doing well, so i guess i shouldn't worry too much. i know it'll pull together. 3 weeks!

i hope everyone at home is doing well. i love and miss you guys. i can't wait to come home this winter. i need some rain : ). LOVE.

beautiful day

2008-10-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

It was a seriously beautiful day today. I think the high was 80 degrees. I woke up, and decided to eat breakfast by myself. So, I walked across the street to a cute little place and sat by myself and read something for class. It was very nice. When I was about to get up and go, this group of little old men came in and all sat together and ate breakfast. I wanted to go up and just say, "How are you all today? It's beautiful outside. Yes, I would love to play bridge with you all on Sundays." : ) I would have, but I chickened out at the last second. I couldn't stop smiling about it on my way home.

I think it's time for those pictures I promised you. Let's see.

Our bear mascot. Past him, you can see West Campus.
Gunter Hall, just a really cool building.

Pretty trees and... a street. : )

17th Street, where my house is.

My house! You can kind of see our Halloween decorations.

Frasier Hall, the theater building.
That's all I have for now. There WILL be more. LOVE.

i know, i know

2008-10-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

I missed a day of blogging, but for good reason. I had my western civ. final yesterday, and most of my time was taken up worrying about it. It was a lot less scary than I thought it would be, and I think I did a pretty good job. We'll be finding out soon.

My first class was cancelled today, so I walked almost a mile for no good reason. But, exercise is exercise, and I can use that. I've been going to the gym every day for a while now, and I feel a lot better now that I have a little routine to follow.

My one-act is going well. I love the cast and my director, and it's going to turn out well, I think. I'm just excited to be involved.

I took some pictures of the campus yesterday on my way to class. It was a beautiful day, and they turned out pretty well. I'll post them soon. I just wish you all (from home) could see it here in person. : )

Until next time, I miss you and will talk to you soon. LOVE.

end of the weekend

2008-10-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

other than being preoccupied with studying this weekend, i had a pretty good one. yesterday, i went to a farmer's market with a couple of friends. i bought a pumpkin to carve, and that made me feel a little closer to home. i did a couple hours worth of studying, and then went and saw RHPS with live performers on campus. CRAZY. i was happy to go home and sleep. today, more studying and i went to see high school musical 3. it put me in such a good mood. it's amazing what a disney movie can do for your spirit.

i've figured out how to get pictures onto my laptop (finally), so once i have some pictures i'll be posting them. this week is going to be a little crazy, and then it's HALLOWEEEEEEN! i'm excited for it, and i've got some good costume ideas. i'll let you know how midterms go. : /

LOVE.

dixie chicks

2008-10-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

I love the Dixie Chicks. They're great. I just remembered how much I like them.

Can't wait to see High School Musical 3. Silly, but I am REALLY excited. Chowch, I wish you were here to see it with me!

Have midterms on Monday, and I just want Tuesday to get here so I can stop worrying about them. I have multiple study sessions this weekend. Wish me luck!

I know this was short, but I want to make a point to update this every day. I want to keep in touch with everyone. So, if I miss a day, feel free to be mad at me : ).

LOVE.

i know this is late, but...

2008-10-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

I thought I should have a way to share, with EVERYONE in my life, what's going on in my life here in Greeley, Colorado. I've been here for.... a little over 2 months, and aside from some minor bumps and stuff, I love it. Everything about this place is great. The leaves are changing, it's getting cold and all I could ask for is more rain : ). Weird, right?

I have great friends here. My roommate Sarah is so fun, and we get along great even though we're so different. She's from Wyoming, and is a cowgirl through and through. Scott is another housemate, and he makes me laugh. Neither Sarah or Scott are in my program, so it's nice to get away from drama that may be happening. Kayla is a great girl who IS in my program, and I'd say she's probably my closest friend in our class. That said, there are some drama kings and queens who shall go unnamed. I just try to stay away from it, and I know that will pay off in the long run. After all, I have to be with these people for the next couple of years, and it'll be better not to have enemies.

Classes are HARD. I have more homework than I anticipated, but I know I'm getting everything done. Midterms are upon us, and trying to keep everything straight is proving difficult. Right at this moment, I can think of a bunch of things that I should be doing instead of writing this blog, but NEVER FEAR, I'll get it all done. I hope. : )

Those of you who know me well may be aware that I like boys. I just do. This has been a source of distraction for me here, with so many new people to meet and learn about. That's what it is, a learning experience. I'm beginning to wonder if it's just an unnecessary thing to worry about. I'm letting things affect me that shouldn't. I mean, I've got an education to get, here. I'm thinking that learning more about myself is a better bet that worrying about if a guy likes me or not. Makes sense, right? We'll see what happens.

I fully realize that last paragraph was cryptic. Sorry.

I'm going to try and post some pictures of Colorado soon, just because I think it's worth seeing. IT'S BEAUTIFUL, PEOPLE. I don't think you understand. Gorgeous.

The whole point of this blog is to say that I'm happy. Happier than I've been in a while. It was time for me to go away. But, I miss everyone at home and can't wait to come home at Christmas to see you all. LOVE.